Yuletidal

Christmas is FUN.  

Parties.  School performances.  Gifts.  Giving.  Decorations.  Christmas Lights. (Aside: Christmas lights make everything look amazing: homes, trees, your face.  WHY are they reserved for only a month or so out of the year?  They are white, so they're not season specific. Anyone feel me on this?)

Christmas is ROUTINE.

There you are again.  At the office party.  In the same house as last year.  You're talking to someone's husband.  You don't know his name.  Then you think, "Oh shoot. I'm pretty sure I wore this same outfit last year." So you say forget it and eat another sausage ball.

Christmas is SACRED.

God gave us His Son.  It's His birthday.  Yet that gets lost in the shuffle, doesn't it? 

Christmas is NOSTALGIC.

Even though you're married and have your own family to bake and buy for, you still think of your family back home.  You wonder what they're doing at the family get togethers.  You're jealous that they're likely wearing sweaters because they actually need to.  Meanwhile you're making your own tradition of building a sandman instead of a snowman.  

Christmas 2012 was all of these things and more.  We couldn't ignore the blessings we were given, big and small, and we will always look back with fondness of the memories we made.  

Here are a few.  Just so we can remember!

Finn was especially into the Christmas spirit this year.  He proudly showed this picture he colored and said: 

"I totally Gangnam styled this tree, Mom."

The proverbial terrible Santa photo.  

Poor Charlie looks like he has been hypnotized.

When Finn learned that Santa was making an appearance at school, he disappeared into his room and returned with this outfit.  

Well played, my friend.

Santa #2:  Bluffton Academy.

Charlie came out of his hypnotic state and peeked.

The boys and I traveled to Greensboro for a few days before Christmas.  

This was the first time in years that we have been home for our family gatherings.  

I have always missed attending these.  I just hadn't realized how much.

One afternoon, we swept cousin Ava up for some Christmas crafting and Krispy Kreme-ing.

At one point, she looked up at me and with little emotion simply stated, "I'm having fun."

No smile. No frills.  Just the plain ol' truth. 

Love that girl. 

Mantle posing with the cousins. 

Yes, Charlie wore suspenders.

Uncle Matt transformed into a human train for all of the cousins.  

Every family needs an Uncle Matt.

I can't remember him leaving a family event where he wasn't drenched in sweat.

Santa #3: 

This Santa surprised the cousins on Christmas Eve at Gigi's house.  

He didn't mess around.

He showed the kids a pretty detailed list of their Naughties and Nicies.

The car ride home was the best behaved all year.  They weren't quite sure where the chips would fall.

And finally, the event we've all been shopping for:

CHRISTMAS MORNING!

(This is where I would have put the photo of the boys waking up and being surprised, but they beat us to the chase and we missed it.  #Christmasmorningphotofail)

This was one of Charlie's gifts.  

It looks like a circus on wheels.  

Pretty ridiculous(ly cute).

 It was a fun morning. 

Seeing their smiles.

Their newfound manners that are a result of pure giddiness.

Two thumbs up.

John's favorite gift of the day was his Stamey's shirt.  

And yes, he is still smokin'.

Jack lost his two front teeth.

And don't worry.  His face did not melt this Christmas.

It's his favorite party trick.

One of the few cool things that comes with wearing glasses.

Holiday Hammocking with cousin Austin. 

His personality matches his cuteness.

New Years Eve was pretty lame. 

I wasn't aware that the boys even knew what was going on, so I took the easy way out and didn't plan a thing.  Around noon that day, Jack asked, "So what do you have planned for tonight since it's New Year's Eve?"

Uh?

Thankfully I purchased some brownie mix months ago and Return of the Jedi happened to come on that night. 

Crisis averted.

Happy New Year.

So, 2013, what's in store?!?!?